The Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico cannot be repaired and is therefore decommissioned after 57 years. The American National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced this. The telescope was used, among other things, to track asteroids, to determine whether planets might be habitable and whether there are traces of extraterrestrial life in the universe.
The iconic 1963 observatory was badly damaged in August when a cable broke, leaving a 100-foot hole in the dish. The dome above the saucer was also damaged.
At the beginning of this month, another cable broke, causing more damage to the structure. It was feared that the entire structure would collapse.
Also unstable in the long term
NSF officials have investigated whether the damage could be repaired, but even with repair, the structure would be unstable in the long term. “This is not an easy decision, but the safety of people is our top priority,” said a senior NSF official. “We know how much Arecibo means to the community and to Puerto Rico.” He argues that the goal was to keep the radio telescope, but that cannot be done without putting construction workers and other people at risk.
“For nearly six decades, Arecibo has served as a beacon for cutting edge science,” said NSF director Panchanathan. “This is a major change, but we will look for ways to help science and keep relationships strong with the people of Puerto Rico.”
The intention is that the grounds of the observatory will also remain available for research and education in the future.
The damage is clearly visible in this photo:
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